Echeveria plant name ‘OVPEARLS14’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Echeveria  plant named ‘OVPEARLS14’ which is characterized by a globular profile with foliage that is tightly held in a basal rosette, relatively long and concave oblanceolate foliage, foliar margins that are occasionally very lightly crenulate to denticulate along one side of the lamina, at and near the apex, glaucous foliage that is covered with a layer of greyed-green epicuticular wax which gives the foliage a dark blue-grey appearance, juvenile foliage that is lightly suffused with greyed-purple along the distal portion of the margins and laminar tips, and mature foliage with dark greyed-orange foliar margins and a greyed-purple laminar tip. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus andspecies of the novel variety disclosed herein is Echeveria pulidonis xgibbiflora.

Variety denomination: The inventive variety of Echeveria disclosedherein has been given the variety denomination ‘OVPEARLS14’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘OVPEARLS14’ is a seedling selection, presumed to be theresult of the open pollination of an unnamed Echeveria pulidonis plant(unpatented), the seed parent, and a plurality of unnamed Echeveriagibbiflora plants (not patented), the presumed pollen parent. The exactpollen parent is unknown. The crossing is believed to have occurred inthe summer of 2016 at a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, theNetherlands. In early 2017, one seedling from said cross was observed toexhibit unique foliage and growth characteristics when compared to theparent plants and all other progeny. After confirming the stability ofthe unique characteristics first observed, the new plant was selectedfor commercialization and given the name, ‘OVROCKS09’.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar‘OVPEARLS14’, by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated inthe autumn of 2017 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk,the Netherlands. Through eleven subsequent generations, the uniquefeatures of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘OVPEARLS14’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘OVPEARLS14’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘OVPEARLS14’ as a new and distinct Echeveria cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘OVPEARLS14’ exhibits a large amount of succulent foliage        that is tightly held in a compact basal rosette with a globular        profile; and    -   2. ‘OVPEARLS14’ exhibits relatively long, concave, oblanceolate        foliage with an upright attitude; and    -   3. ‘OVPEARLS14’ and foliar margins that are occasionally very        lightly crenulate to denticulate along one side of the lamina,        at and near the apex; and    -   4. ‘OVPEARLS14’ exhibits glaucous foliage that is covered with a        layer of greyed-green epicuticular wax which gives the foliage a        dark blue-grey appearance; and    -   5. ‘OVPEARLS14’ exhibits juvenile foliar margins that are        lightly suffused with greyed-purple along the distal margins and        laminar tip; and    -   6. ‘OVPEARLS14’ exhibits mature foliage with dark greyed-orange        foliar margins and a greyed-purple laminar tip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘OVPEARLS14’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, theNetherlands. This plant is approximately 1.5-year-old, shown planted ina 15 cm container.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘OVPEARLS14’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of themature foliage ‘OVPEARLS14’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage ‘OVPEARLS14’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in December of 2021describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 1 year old‘OVPEARLS14’ plants grown in 8.5 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria whichconsisted of minimal subsurface irrigation, fertilizer applications, andchemical pest control measures against thrips as required. No otherchemical pest and disease control measures were taken. Plants were grownunder approximately 50 percent shade after propagation and later exposedto full sun once they began to mature. No photoperiodic treatments orartificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘OVPEARLS14’has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘OVPEARLS14’ and a comparison with the parentplants and closest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            compact, non-branched basal rosette, eventually forms a            short stem with age.        -   Plant form.—Globular.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—10.8 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 19.8 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately to highly vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 5 weeks at an approximate temperature of 21            degrees Celsius. Crop time — Approximately 1 year to produce            a marketable plant in a 7 cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria pests and            diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once            established; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—Leaves in a non-branching basal rosettes;            no main branches or lateral branches present.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 120 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Dimensions.—8.2 cm long, 2.7 cm wide, and 0.7 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Very slightly concave and curved upwards.        -   Attitude.—Juvenile foliage at the center of the rosette            exhibits a near-vertical attitude; foliage becomes            progressively more relaxed as it matures and becomes nearly            horizontal to slightly pendulous at the outer whorls of the            rosette.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Long cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire; occasionally very lightly crenulate to            denticulate, usually along one side of the lamina, at and            near the apex.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and matte; strongly glaucous.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and matte; strongly glaucous.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in            between green and greyed-green, nearest to RHS NN137D and            189A; fading to yellow-green towards the base, nearest to            RHS 146D; margined greyed-green, nearest to RHS 194D; apical            margins and laminar tip are lightly suffused with            greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 186B. Leaves are covered with            a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is colored            greyed-green, nearest to in between RHS 188A and N189C.            Juvenile foliage, abaxial surface — Greyed-green, nearest to            RHS 191A; fading lighter towards the base, nearest to RHS            193A; margined yellow-green, nearest to a mixture RHS 145C            and 145D; laminar tip is lightly suffused with            greyed-purple, nearest to RHS 186B. Leaves are covered with            a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is colored            greyed-green, nearest to RHS N189C. Mature foliage, adaxial            surface — Nearest to a mixture of green and greyed-green,            RHS NN137C and 191A, and lightly suffused with 197B; fading            to yellow-green towards the base, nearest to RHS 147C;            margins are yellow-green, nearest to RHS 146C, and become            suffused with greyed-orange distally, nearest to a            combination of RHS 176A and 176B; laminar tip is            greyed-purple, RHS 187A. Leaves are covered with a thin            layer of epicuticular wax which is colored greyed-green,            nearest to in between RHS 188A and N189C. Mature foliage,            abaxial surface — Nearest to a mixture of yellow-green and            greyed-green, RHS 148B and 197A; fading to yellow-green            towards the base, nearest to RHS 148B; margins are            yellow-green, nearest to RHS 147C, and become suffused with            greyed-orange distally, nearest to in between RHS 177A and            200B; laminar tip is greyed-purple, RHS 187A. Leaves are            covered with a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is            colored greyed-green, nearest to RHS N189C.        -   Venation.—Pattern — No venation is visible. Color, adaxial            surface — No venation is visible. Color, abaxial surface —            No venation is visible.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

Comparisons With the Parent Plant

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS14’ differ from the seed parent, anunnamed Echeveria pulidonis plant (not patented) in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘OVPEARLS14’ The seed parent. Foliage size.Longer than the parent. Smaller than ‘OVPEARLS14’. Foliage length.Longer than the parent. Shorter than ‘OVPEARLS14’. General colorationGenerally appearing as Generally appearing as of the mature blue-grey. alight shade of greyed- foliage. green. General coloration Apical marginsare greyed- Apical margins and of the foliar orange; the laminar tipsare laminar tip are a dark margins. greyed-purple. shade of greyed-red.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS14’ differ from the pollen parent,an unnamed Echeveria gibbiflora plant (not patented) in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘OVPEARLS14’ The pollen parent. Foliageabundance. More abundant than Less abundant than the pollen parent.‘OVPEARLS14’. Foliage shape. Oblanceolate. Broadly obovate. Foliagelength. Longer than the Shorter than pollen parent. ‘OVPEARLS14’.General coloration Generally appearing Blue-grey and heavily of thefoliage. as blue-grey. suffused with red-purple.

Comparisons With the Closest Known Comparator

Plants of the new cultivar ‘OVPEARLS14’ differ from Echeveria hybrid‘OVPEARLS12’ (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 17/803,288 filedconcurrently), which is the closest known comparator, in the followingcharacteristics described in Table 3 below.

TABLE 3 Characteristic ‘OVPEARLS12’ ‘OVPEARLS14’ Plant size. Larger thanSmaller than ‘OVPEARLS12’. ‘OVPEARLS14’. Foliage Less abundant than Moreabundant than abundance. ‘OVPEARLS12’. ‘OVPEARLS14’. Foliage shape.Oblanceolate. Oblanceolate to narrowly oblong. Foliage size. Larger thanSmaller than ‘OVPEARLS12’. ‘OVPEARLS14’. Foliar Occasionally verylightly Occasionally with some margins. crenulate to denticulate, slightundulation along one usually along one side of side of the lamina, atand the lamina, at and near the near the apex. apex.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveriapulidonis x gibbiflora plant named ‘OVPEARLS14’, substantially asdescribed and illustrated herein.